This Cheesy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 350 calories, 18g protein, and 20g carbs per serving. Ready in 35 minutes. High in fiber (6g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
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In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crispy.
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Add the Brussels sprouts to the skillet and cook until they start to brown.
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Transfer the Brussels sprouts and bacon to a baking dish.
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Sprinkle with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
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Bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Why this Cheesy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan works for PCOS
This Cheesy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan delivers 18g of protein per serving, which sits in the moderate range for a PCOS-friendly meal. If you find yourself hungry within 2-3 hours, pair this dish with an additional protein source (Greek yogurt, a boiled egg, or a small portion of fish) to push the meal closer to the 25-35g per-meal target most PCOS dietitians recommend.
The 20g of carbohydrates here come paired with 6g of fibre, which slows glucose absorption and produces a flatter post-meal blood sugar curve. Fibre is one of the most under-rated tools for PCOS: it feeds gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids linked to improved insulin sensitivity, and it modestly lowers circulating androgens by binding bile acids in the gut.
Fat makes up about 57% of calories in this dish. Dietary fat plays a load-bearing role in PCOS because sex hormones are synthesised from cholesterol, and very-low-fat eating can suppress hormone production over time. The 2023 PCOS guideline does not specify a strict fat target, but most clinicians recommend at least 25-35% of calories from a mix of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated sources.
Evening meals affect overnight insulin and morning blood sugar more than most women realise. Keeping dinner protein-forward and finishing eating at least 2-3 hours before bed gives your body time to clear glucose before the overnight fast, which improves morning fasting insulin readings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this Cheesy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 350 calories per serving with 18g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 6g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 35 minutes total. Prep time is 10 minutes and cook time is 25 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 350 calories, 18g protein (21%), 20g carbs, 22g fat. Plus 6g fiber. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.
Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Dinner. At 350 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Dinner. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.
This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 2 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.
Cook Another PCOS-Friendly Dinner
Each recipe you add to your rotation makes PCOS management easier. Variety keeps you from getting bored and quitting.
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